October is over!

It's November already! A lot has been happening in the last two weeks. I'll have to think hard to fill in any important blanks between the last post and this one.

Life Chain was scheduled for Oct 4th but it was raining (and had been raining) really hard. Some people in our area had no power. So, as a county, 5 towns, we rescheduled to the 25th. It was a big hit!

As we came to a stop in the driveway at the end of our big, monthly shopping trip I had an epic flat tire.
Thank you smallish persons who like to play with EVERYTHING, including but not limited to bricks and cement blocks, and who were told REPEATEDLY to not have such things in the driveway because your mother thinks she can straddle such. She can't.

At least we were home.
We only had one spare.
Its time for new tires anyway.

Papa was scheduled to have knee replacement at the beginning of the month but it got rescheduled several times and was on the 19th. Everything went GREAT! But the last two weeks I've had to be devoted to Papa nearly full time (and when I do get to be at home napping is the thing that happens).
He went to stay at a local Rehab place until his get'along gets along better.

Breakfast with Papa 10/22/2015

The week of surgery I was also teaching at Community Bible Study. I'm still in wonder at how God worked all that out. He really was in my comings and goings and interactions with others and my time. He brought the whole thing together - and once again - it was not me. Ain't it grand to be a vessel used for God's glory.
And I'm sure, I learned the most that week. (and I quoted Shakespeare to make a point).

from Community Bible Study, Romans Lesson 10

Papa gave us a scare the next Sunday evening. His leg was HUGE and swollen and tender. So, just in case it was a blood clot we had him carried to the ER.
By the way, when I grow up, I now want to drive ambulances, cause they GET to go fast - I had a great time following Papa to the hospital in the middle of the night - FAST! Woohoo!

I did NOT have a great time at the hospital. I was pretty sure by the next morning that they would soon have to treat at least two people for dehydration and starvation. It was a LONG sleepless night.
Thankfully, it was a bad case of cellulitis. That's a new word for me. It's an infection of the skin and tissue just under the skin. Which was really painful, but with some antibiotics not life threatening.

Last week, the children and I were going to learn (again) lots about the Protestant Reformation leading up to Reformation Day!
What's Reformation Day? Well, on October 31, 1517 . . . you can just read more about there here & here.
But between all of the doings with Papa - and subsequent naps, and praising God for a helpful, loving husband and BIG kids, we didn't.
BUT . . . a sweet friend told us about some other like minded theologians.
So we went and partied with the folks at Heritage Presbyterian in Royston.
It was GREAT, easy on Mama's, well done games and some humorous drama with "Tetzel and Martin."

Stained Glass - because "the church" was the Roman Catholic Church (Catholic = universal)
There were a few "heretics" (like Wycliff & Huss) but they didn't live long.

Luther was studying to be a lawyer but got stuck by lightening,
prayed to St. Anne (alleged mother of the virgin Mary)
and became an Augustinian Monk.

Luther, through study and teaching the scriptures, found fault with the teachings of "the church"
- especially when a dude named Tetzel came around selling indulgences.

Illuminating Scripture with a Monk
& the humorous exchange between the indulgences hawking Tetzel and smarty-pants Luther.

Knock down the False Teachings & the 5 Solas Toss

 There was also a throw the Papel Bull in the fire - but I didn't get a picture of that.

Hunting in the shooting gallery (Black Forest?) & Translating Scripture with Martin Luther

The Cat Game (see below) & our two biggest sticks in the mud.

The little kids were in the Wartburg Castle bouncing up and down while the big kids and I were playing Bingo in hopes of winning fresh baked goods (I'm still a little miffed we didn't win the Black Forest cake).
Suddenly, there was a pretty gray and white kitty cat under our table. (Looked a lot like Henrietta Mama Cat I had when I was little). Of course this pretty kitty caught the attention of several smallish persons.
Then, it caught the attention of Josiah who ran over to me, "I want to pay da tat dame!"
"What?"
"I want to pay da tat dame!"
A wave of understanding washed over me, "Son, the cat is not a game."
But he played it anyway, until the cat got away.
That's Jorja in the purple with her back to us in the picture above (Josiah is on her left in red).
You can see the cat's head and front paw reaching over Jorja's right arm.

And then there's today.
Jacob played a rousing game of hide-and-seek with his "stuffies" this morning.
Of course, stuffies can't hide themselves. He even counted and pretended to forget where they hid (even the ones in plain sight).
Then he had Josiah "take pictures" of himself with his lined up stuffies.
So, Josiah is standing there with hands boxed in front of his face, "click, click. Click, click."
And Jacob begins to jump and wiggle and move in front of the "camera."
"You know what these are called? Motion pictures."

And the crowd went wild. (The crowd being two biggest sisters and the Mama).

We finally hit the reset button on our school lessons and began again this morning.
So, we are back at it. A new normal.

Reformation Day 2014

We got convicted and quit doing Halloween several years ago. You can read that "Evil" post here.
We continue to be amazed with how God directs our lives. We felt no need to replace Halloween (even though we all love dress-up and candy) but God lead us to begin to learn about church reformers and after several years of saying, "we need to know more about that," we finally did.

In our Bible Study we've been studying how God raised up judges and prophets to lead His wayward people back to Him. And studying church history reminds us that He hasn't stopped. The Catholic church was HUGE and overcome with greed and false teaching. Then God raised up men like John Wycliffe, John Huss, Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox and others to lead His people, the church, back to Himself.

Many men risked their lives to confront the Catholic church and point out their unbiblical doctrines and practices. And thus, the Protestant church was birthed through long hard labor.

"Through faith alone in Christ alone" was their united belief, and thanks to them we can celebrate having a Bible in our own language, and understanding that Jesus is the only mediator between God and men that we need. He is our Great High Priest. And because of His sacrificial love for us, we, through faith in Him, are a royal priesthood and can come before the throne of God ourselves and receive forgiveness and grace.

THAT is worth celebrating!

On October 31, 1517 (497 years ago) a monk and professor, Martin Luther, nailed a theses to the door of a church in Germany, strongly suggesting that perhaps the church was wrong about some stuff (particularly papal bulls and indulgences - look it up) and inviting anyone who wanted to come debate about it.
He was quickly tired and convicted as a heretic, which carried a death sentence, so he hid in a friends attic and translated the New Testament into German.

Thus, October 31st has been dubbed Reformation Day. Let the celebrating commence!

Decorations; bottom picture is "Luther's Rose"

The Mama did a LOT of research - so with the help of MANY websites (pinterest and google) and blogs  by other mamas we had a big history lesson on Thursday, then on Friday, after lessons and lunch we gathered in the living room (the other end of the school room) and had a review. The who, what, when, and where's.

Then we partied like it was 1517!

We read together (all 95 points of Martins theses) then "nailed" (with tape) our theses to the door (cardboard that Mama drew on).


We repaired stained-glass windows that had been damaged in the riots (we colored). And other fun stuff. Just see for yourself:

Josiah "nailing" is theses to the door; Lora and Jorja decorating placemats; Alex at the "Baptismal Apple Dunking"

Top:Match-a-Sola (I'll explain this below); Alex and Brent sitting at tiny desk coloring the Solas;
Bottom: Josiah, Ava, Autumn & Jacob coloring; Elijah coloring

Victuals: We had communion (pitas and grape juice - for educational purposes) lead by the Daddy.
We had apple cider and our "Diet of Worms"
(that was the name of the council that convicted Luther - ours was "dirt" with gummy worms in it).

Next year I'd like to have more German foods and actual Wassail.

Luther burned the Papal Bull that declared him excommunicated from the Catholic Church - he thought it was just a bunch of  worthless bull. So we did likewise. - Our "bulls" even had a copy of the seal of Pope Leo X from 1517.
Boys like setting things on fire. 

We sang Hymns and spiritual songs. Including "A Might Fortress" - cause Luther wrote it. 

To sing what we sang go here to my Reformation Day playlist on YouTube.
We also sang some fun songs. I'll put those at the bottom (with the Solas).

The Door after all the Theses were nailed to it;
The pretty red runner Grandmother gave me for my birthday with hymns and bulls on it;
and the movie.

To finish up we attempted to watch the 1953 version of Martin Luther. Several actually made it through the whole movie, others went to play ("this is boring"), the Mama slept through it.

We may try the more recent version next time (have to preview it first).

We all want to do it all over again next year! Only we want to invite others to join us. I can foresee this becoming our recurring "fall party."

Look for Ava's second "Miss Modesty" post coming sometime today. She's worked hard again this week and is discussing real love. I'll link it here when she's done.

Love ya!
Mama

One resource called the "5 Solas" the Pillars of the Reformation:

Sola Gratia 

- by grace alone

Sola Fide 

- through faith alone

Solus Christus 

- in Christ alone

Sola Scriptura 

- according to Scripture alone

Soli Deo Gloria 

- for the glory of God alone

Fun Songs:
from here

Reformation Carol

By Anne & Tom Lipe of Damascus, MD
(to the tune of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer)

There was a monk named Luther,
As devout as he could be.
You couldn't find a better
monk in all of Germany.

All of the other friars
used to laugh and call him names.
They never dreamed that God would
lead him down the path to fame.

Then one cold October morn
God's call came to him:
"Luther, I think you are right;
I want you to lead my fight."

So then he wrote his theses;
tacked them up for all to see.
And now the Reformation
will go down in history...."

Martin the German

Chris P. Matthy
(to the tune of "Frosty the Snowman")

Martin the German was a sorry, mixed up soul,
'Cause he thought it odd that a loving God
Would condemn him straight to hell.

Martin the German even took a sacred vow
When a lightning strike nearly took his life
But St. Anne stepped in somehow.

It must have seemed like magic when
Old Habbukuk he found,
'Cause when he read God saves by faith
He began to dance around.

O, Martin the German felt reborn again that day,
And he spread the word from old Wittenberg
All the way to Rome, they say.

Thumpitty thump thump, thumpitty thump thump,
Nail them to the door;
Thumpitty thump thump, thumpitty thump thump,
Hear those Theses roar!

© CPM 2006.

The Reformation Polka

by Robert Gebel
[Sung to the tune of "Supercalifragilistic-expialidocious"]

When I was just ein junger Mann I studied canon law;
While Erfurt was a challenge, it was just to please my Pa.
Then came the storm, the lightning struck, I called upon Saint Anne,
I shaved my head, I took my vows, an Augustinian! Oh...

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let's start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

When Tetzel came near Wittenberg, St. Peter's profits soared,
I wrote a little notice for the All Saints' Bull'tin board:
"You cannot purchase merits, for we're justified by grace!
Here's 95 more reasons, Brother Tetzel, in your face!" Oh...

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let's start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

They loved my tracts, adored my wit, all were exempleror;
The Pope, however, hauled me up before the Emperor.
"Are these your books? Do you recant?" King Charles did demand,
"I will not change my Diet, Sir, God help me here I stand!" Oh...

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation -
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let's start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

Duke Frederick took the Wise approach, responding to my words,
By knighting "George" as hostage in the Kingdom of the Birds.
Use Brother Martin's model if the languages you seek,
Stay locked inside a castle with your Hebrew and your Greek! Oh...

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation -
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let's start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

Let's raise our steins and Concord Books while gathered in this place,
And spread the word that 'catholic' is spelled with lower case;
The Word remains unfettered when the Spirit gets his chance,
So come on, Katy, drop your lute, and join us in our dance! Oh...

Chorus:
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation -
Speak your mind against them and face excommunication!
Nail your theses to the door, let's start a Reformation!
Papal bulls, indulgences, and transubstantiation!

So Far This Summer . . .

So far this Summer we are having a splendid time. Slower pace. 

Enjoying a somewhat empty calendar - at least as compared to the Spring we just had. 

July is already upon us!

So, let's catch up...

In May we celebrated the marriage of my practice baby. The
little baby my aunt entrusted to the teenage me, the baby I hauled around (then called our Granny because I had no idea what I was doing), that baby is now a grown-up, married women. And I'm so tickled for her.

She is precious and has found a sweet, manly, God-fearing, young man to spend the rest of her life with. (Heart swelling).

And my own dearly beloved, darling, preacher, handsome, fun, sweet, loving, manly-man was the dude who hitched them together. He's pretty impressed with them too! 
I was the preacher's wife, the "go-fer", the general "what'd'ya'need-er." And HAPPY.
  
The little girls were flower girls (or fairies or hobbits). 

The big girls greeted people, and had them sign the book and pointed them in the right direction (the wedding was outside - in the woods). 
The big boys were in charge of the last minute handling of our video camera (they need more practice - if anybody would like low-budget cost friendly filming they are available). 

And the little boys, well, they stayed out of trouble (as far as we know).

The whole shebang was just perfectly lovely.

Another baby cousin, a rare site, made a surprise entrance!

Top left, Seth waiting to surprise Sarah; right OH YOUR HERE!; bottom left Trying Not to Cry

 And the mother and father of the bride carry lighter pocketbooks now but are really holding up nicely (and still have all the hair they started with). I remember when they came to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior and they have been such a wonderful example to me in so many ways. 
Recently, after the wedding-dust had cleared a little, the children and I spent the day with my aunt and little cousin (the brother of the bride). Can't wait to do it again.

And some more sweets for you eyeballs . . .

The Brown Girls

Uncle Doug and Daniel

Those Dunagan Children
Larry, Joyce, Audrey, Juanita
Melba & Carolyn

Skipping down the barefoot trail
(they finally got to go EAT!)

Baby Sarah's wedding day

The day after the wedding we celebrated our 7th Familiversary!
Left over cake at the park with family. 

Part of the clan: Jagdeep, Cindy, Carolyn, Erin (me), Kathy, Audrey, Joyce (my mama), Mike, Melba, Kelly

Leftover wedding cake to celebrate!

My Alex, Cindy's Sean, Audrey's Daniel
Can you tell they are cousins?

Melody, Lora, Jacob, Josiah, Tara, Joyce (aka Grandmother, aka MOAJ)
Caitlyn, Jorja, Lizzy, Aunt Carolyn

Sweet Music - Ava, Kyla, Autumn

 Then a trip to a museum and eating at the Cracker-barrel. 

Those Brown Children get schooled 1900's style.

We snuck in a little swimming that weekend too.

Jacob

Josiah & Lora

Gene and our posse

We continue to minister at the nursing home in Royston every Friday night. And June 1st we began having church at Victoria Bryant State Park in Franklin Springs. We've had campers come every week and some weeks a friend will show up. 

We have enjoyed meeting believers we may never see again this side of heaven. And the services are just wonderful.  
 Gene made a YouTube channel this week and plans to post his sermons there.

During Vacation Bible School at Poplar Springs
I taught the tiny-chillins (18 months-3 years old) and Autumn helped. Ava helped in the 4-5 year old room (so she had Jacob and Josiah with her).
We all had a great time being "Secret Agents" for the week.


In Other News:

The boys raided my cardboard and made armor.

Gene bought us (me) a dulcimer. 

Elijah and Alex went to a half-day football camp. 

Elijah wants to play more, Alex, not so much.

While switching places with our new driver 

something happened to my NEW phone . . .

A picture's worth a thousand words.

We went to the Shriner's Parade in Helen

and saw our very own Shriner.

Papa & some baby-Shriners

Lora got pink boots for her birthday and when I cleaned my room 

(I CLEANED MY ROOM - it's a really big deal and Gene is giving me a hard time about telling everybody - 2 sweet friends, one of whom has had a tour and told me how proud she is - it's that big a deal - I even cleaned the closets and hung curtains - Gene's is "thankful" and happier - but since I don't want to make a liar of him I'm telling EVERYONE - at least 3 more sweet people who read this blog - Hi Mama!) I found another pair of pink boots for Jorja. 

We've seen LOTS of snakes, turtles and lizards. 

Here is a small sample - if you get creeped-out easily scroll down faster now..

The tiny turtle we are "studying"

Note to self: if you find lizard eggs just leave them alone.

Another King Snake - whose tail was
going up the back of Alex's shirt and made him
wiggle after this picture.

One more!

That's all folks!